Electrically controlled regulating means



Nova 1 1932. w. H. J. GERBER 1,885,196

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED REGULATING MEANS Filed June 1-7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nova 1, 1932. w. H. J. GERBER 1,885,196

Filed June 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /I TTOKNEI Patented Nov. 1 1932 UNITED STATES PPATENT' OFFICE WALTER H. J GERBER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB T SCHUTTE AND KQEBTING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANLA ELEo'rnIcA LY CONTROLLED nEauLA'rme mums Application filed June 17,

My invention relates to electrically controlled regulating means which is capable of various applications but is especially adapted for use in the controlling of the pressure in steam supply lines. The invention is designed primarily to maintain the pressure of a fluid as nearly constant as may be practicable at its point of application.

The general object of the invention is to provide regulating means of novel but of simple construction and at the same time of character such that it is highly efficient in operation.

It also is an object of the invention to provide a regulating means for the purpose indicated wherein the parts necessary to be employed and to operate eificiently are relatively few in number and wherein also the construction is bf a character such that it is not apt to get out of order and in consequence fail to operate as it should.

For a fuller and more detailed statement as to the purposes and objects of means such as constitutes my invention and as disclosed herein 1 refer to my pending application for Letters Patent filed December 26, 1929, Serial No. lltiflii i.

I shall not further amplify the objects and advantages of the invention in this portion or" the specification but will proceed with a detailed description thereof wherein further objects and advantages will be pointed out specifically or else will be apparent.

in order that the invention may be readily understood and its practical advantages become apparent reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein l have illustrated a structure in the form present preferred by me which embodies the invention. However, it should be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms of construction within the scope of the claims and that various changes in the details of construction may he without departing from the invention or the principle thereof.

"in the drawings:

Fig. l is view partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section of a portion of a structure embodying my invention includeso. seem No. 461,704.

ing the means for controlling the operation of the structure;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertlcal section looking toward the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of a portion. of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the poation of the structure shown in Fig. 3; an

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuits which are controlled by the means shown in the preceding figures of the drawings and also showing the device or mechanism controlled thereby.

In the drawings I have shown at 1 a pipe by which steam or other fluid under pressure is supplied to a Bourdon tube 2. The steam or other fluid under pressure for supplying the power for operating a steam turbine or other structure is conveyed through pipes 3 and 4 the latter being in effect a continua tion or the former, the two being connected through a valve structure at 5 which oper ates to control the flow of fluid through the said pipes 3 and 4. Y

The pipe 3 leads from a source, not shown, or fluid under pressure while the pipe 4 is located between the valve structure 5 and a steam turbine or other structure to which the fluid under pressure is being conveyed.

For satisfactory operation it is necessary that the fluid be conveyed to its point of application at substantially constant pressure hence it is the purpose of the present invention to control and regulate the pressure of the fluid in the pipe l. To that end the lat ter is connected through a pipe 6 to the pipe 1, the intermediate portion of the connection, however, being omitted.

Any variation of pressure of the iluid in the pipe at is transmitted through the pipes 6 and l to the Bourdon tube 2 as a result which the latter expands or contracts depending upon whether the pressure is increased or diminished. The result of such expansion and contraction is to cause pivotal or swingmovement of an arm 10 provided at its upper end with a pointer 11, said arm being end to the upper end of the arm 63 and at its opposite end to a stationar pin 72. The said spring 71 is normally slig itly expanded and its tendency to contract holds the inner end of the adjustable screw against the filler 67.

A portion of mercury 7 3 within the receptacle 60 is adapted to he moved from one position to another so as to connect and disconnect the inner ends of the contacts 50 and with each other. Movement of the mercury contact 73 is eiiected by imparting a rocking movement to the link 65 which movement .is

transmitted to the hell crank lever comprising the parts 62 and 63. F or the purpose of causing rocking or swinging movements of the link 65 l have provided a cam wheel 76 which in the construction shown comprises four projections. However, it will he understood that the number of these projections may be increased or diminished. The cam wheel '2'6 is mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 7 8 of a motor the outline of which is indicated at 79. Electric current is supplied to the motor for causing continuous rotation thereof from the main line wires 80 and 81. Current also is supplied from these wires to a transformer 82. v

A. conducting wire 83 is connected at one end to the outer'cnd of the contact 7 5 and at its opposite end to a binding post at 84 to which also is connected one end of a wire 85 the opposite end of which is connected to the contact 41 previously referred to.

The outer end of the contact 42 previously referred to as one of those mounted in the top of the receptacle 30 is connected by means of a conducting wire to a-binding post 91 which is connected b means of-a conducting wire92 to a relay in icated as a whole at 93. The opposite side of the relay is connected to the transformer through a conducting wire The outer end of the contact 44 is connected la means oi": a conducting wire to a bind- 313W post which in turn is connected i r neans of a conducting wire 07 to one side f r clay indicated as a whole at 98. The pposite side of said relayis connected lay a conducting wire 29 to the wire 94 and thence to the isi'ormer 82. ll? the arm 10 and thereofoccupy vertical position shown in Fig, l of the drawings the contact device including the receptacle 3& will occupy the position as shown in said figure with out several contacts 42 to 45 out a understood, however, that at all times the o" engagement with the mercury 33. It will" cam device 7 6 is rotating and causing tilting or swinging movements of the links 65 with the bell crank lever carried thereby to alternately open and close the gap between the innor ends of the contacts 50 and 75 to connect the conducting wires 48 and 83. However, no result is accomplished by the opening and closing of the gap between the inner ends of the contacts 50 and 75 while the contact device mounted upon the portion 25 remains in horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1. Assuming, however, that the fluid pressure in the pipe 4 increases so as to cause an expansion of the Bourdon tube 2 to cause movement of the arm 10 toward the right with a corresponding reverse movement of the portion 25 rigidly connected therewith, and that the pressure has increased only sufiiciently to cause sufiicient tilting of the arm 10 and part 25 to cause the mercury 33 in the receptacle 30 to contact with the inner lower end of the contact 42, then the circuit from the transformer will he completed through the wires 49 and 48, contacts 50 and 75,wires 83 and 85, contact 41, the mercury 33, conducting wires 90, 92, relay 93 and wire 94 to the transformer 82. The flow of current through the relay 98 operates in known manner to close a circuit including a conducting .wire 100 (leading from the line 81), conducting wire 101, through the relay 93 to conducting wires 102 and 103, the motor 40 and thence through the conductor 104 to line 80.

Assuming, on the other hand, that the fluid pressure in the pipe 4 decreases and that in consequence the Bourdon tuhe 2 contracts to cause pivotal movement of the arm 10 toward the left with a correspondirll, movement of the part 25 toward the right a sufiicient distance to cause contact of the mercury 33 with the conductor 44, in the latter event current would flow from the transformer 82 through conducting wires 49 and 48, contacts 50, mercury 73, conducting Wires 83 and 85, contact 41, mercury 33, contact 44, conducting wires 95 and 9? to relay 98 and from thelatter through conducting the oscillation of the holder 60 to cause movement of the mercury '73 to alternately open and close the gap between the inner ends of the contacts 55) and T 5 the circuits t irough the relaysasprevioufly described are alternately opened and closed, so as to cause in ing therewith, said contact device including.

. the motes 3:0 to the? lee movable member of on 'wonlcl 'loecl r nvention What secn'ce Letters Patent 37 controlled regulating means r f g fluicl at a predeterminefl le compcising in combination on oscillole member cesponsive to variations of the BESSGKQ of solo! finicl, plurality of electric circuits, means actuated by said CiICLiiliS for controlling encl regulating the pressure of eoiol fluid, and e mercury contact device monntecl upon the said member and oscillate plurality of contacts one of which is at all times in contact with the mercury of the said device while other contacts on opposite sidles thereof are normally out of contact with said mercury out certain of which contact with the mercury flepending upon the clicec" .tion of movement of the said contact oevice to close one or the other of the circuits controllecl by the said contact device.

2. Electrically controlled regulating means for meintoininge fiuicl at a predetermined pressure at a selected point comprising in this 16th (lay of June, 1936.

eemee I L coneect WilEZE semi c c. no cot otlon osci' ciecnits for U liquicl contact eleme minor, 2, plnmlitv col saicl conioiner and c soicl 'lentionect co: leeting into the saicl ples of contacts located L tects of the soicl couples contacts different lengths end one Oi both is adopted to contact with the 7' depending upon the extent ol ment of the soicl oscilleto ole member, two oi" the said elccttcic circuits being ecleptell to closed through the first nemecl contect end one or the other of the contacts new st thereto of said couples of contacts (lepencling upon the direction of tilt of the said. container, and means for interrupting the flow of current through each of the last two named circuits, the other two of the said circuits including the contacts of the respective couples of conteats, the said other two circuits lay-passing the said interrupting means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention Ihave hereunto signed my name WALTER H. all GERBER combinetion e pivoted member responsiveto variations of the pressure of said fluid, a

plurality of -elt-actt'io circuits, a contact cle- 

